Finding Cures Starts Here: The Lymphoma Research Foundation Reaches 25-Year Milestone

It was 1995 when the founders of the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) realized its dual mission: to eradicate lymphoma — by funding innovative research guided by its world-renowned Scientific Advisory Board — and to serve those touched by this disease — by sharing research and treatment insights directly with the lymphoma community through national education programs.

Under the leadership of Joseph Bertino, MD, the LRF Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) was created to guide the Foundation’s research portfolio. Today, the world-renowned SAB comprises leading lymphoma experts, nine of whom are former LRF grantees.

and progress, as the Foundation continues to pursue its mission by funding a broad continuum of lymphoma research — from basic science to drug development — and empowering patients through education and support services.

Through lymphoma-specific research grants and consortia, LRF has sought to better understand the almost 100 subtypes of lymphoma and support the development of new treatments. LRF’s focus on supporting early-career scientists ensures the best and brightest remain in the field of lymphoma research so that innovation and progress continue. As a result, LRF-supported researchers have been involved in many of the most significant lymphoma breakthroughs witnessed in the past quarter-century.

Simultaneously, LRF has worked tirelessly to help patients, survivors, caregivers and families understand their diagnosis and ensure they have access to the support and resources they need.

As we celebrate 25 years of innovation and progress, reflect on our past and celebrate our current achievements, we keep our eyes on the future — all with a steadfast dedication to the community we exist to serve.

Learn more about LRF’s history and how you can support 25 additional years of innovation and progress at lymphoma.org/25.

As a direct result of the efforts and research of a dozen LRF grantees and SAB members, the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was transformed in a single year. The FDA approved four new therapies for the disease, making treatment possible for more patients than ever before and improving outcomes.

The inaugural North American Educational Forum on Lymphoma was convened in California. Today, the world’s Forum is the largest lymphoma-specific conference for patients in the world and inspired a series of regional and local LRF patient programs developed yearround across the nation.

To expand its first-in-class lymphoma education programming, LRF developed Lymphoma Rounds, a professional education program specifically for those caring for lymphoma patients. The program debuted in Chicago, IL; today, Lymphoma Rounds is held in seven major U.S. cities.

Research led by various SAB members discovered that diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is two distinct diseases, each with its own genetic profile.

LRF’s Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Initiative was founded, making LRF the largest private funder of MCL research. The Initiative transformed the treatment and care of people with MCL.

The first cellular therapy to treat lymphoma, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, was approved by the FDA for the treatment of DLBCL. In 2003, LRF funded the first-ever study providing in vivo evidence that CAR T cells are effective in an animal model.

Led by LRF, SAB and MCL Consortium members, the first-ever combination and chemotherapy-free treatment regimen for patients with slow-growing forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma was approved by the FDA.

In 1995, the Lymphoma Research Foundation’s (LRF) mission was realized and had since grown into something much bigger than anyone could imagine. Through their journey with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Jerry Freundlich and his wife Barbara recognized the need for a lymphoma-specific organization that could provide increased funding of lymphoma research and support to other families impacted by lymphoma. With their vision set on eradicating lymphoma, the Freundlichs worked tirelessly to create a community of healthcare professionals, researchers, patients, survivors, and caregivers who shared their passion for ensuring a brighter future for all those touched by this blood cancer.

“Our goal has always been to empower patients to become their own health advocate, and to ultimately one day see a world without lymphoma,” says the Freundlichs. “Over the past 25 years, LRF has gained a better understanding not only of lymphoma, but also of the effect it can have on those who receive a diagnosis.” Since its beginning, LRF has become the nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to funding lymphoma research and empowering patients, survivors, and their loved ones through education.

To advance the future of lymphoma research, the LRF Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) was established in 1995 under the leadership of its Founding Chair, Joseph R. Bertino, MD. Dr. Bertino began the SAB with just 10 members and a commitment to excellence and visionary thinking. Today, the SAB is world renowned and comprised of 45 expert lymphoma clinicians and researchers who guide LRF’s research agenda and offer their expertise to inform LRF’s programming and patient resources.

Current LRF SAB Chair Andrew D. Zelenetz, MD, PhD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, has been a member of the SAB since its inception in 1995. Over the past 25 years, Dr. Zelenetz believes that LRF has had a profound impact on an array of lymphoma research and scientists within the field. He says that this impact is evident through LRF’s unique research programs, which help to foster early-career scientists and encourage them to remain within the area of lymphoma. “It is important to the field of lymphoma that we attract the best and the brightest young investigators,” says Dr. Zelenetz. “The SAB has been instrumental in helping LRF ensure a brighter future for all those touched by lymphoma, and it is my honor to serve as the Chair.”

JOHN P. LEONARD NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medicine

LEO I. GORDON, MD, FACP Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University

THOMAS M. HABERMANN Mayo Clinic, Rochester

SONALI M. SMITH, MD (CURRENT CHAIR-ELECT) The University of Chicago

JOSEPH R. BERTINO, MD Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

OLIVER PRESS, MD, PHD (In Memoriam) Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center University of Washington Medical Center

RICHARD I. FISHER Fox Chase Cancer Center – Temple Health

BRUCE D. CHESON, MD, FACP, FAAS, FASCO LRF Scientific Advisory Board

DR. ANDREW D. ZELENETZ

As the most trusted resource for lymphoma support and education, LRF is proud of its continued efforts and impact on the lymphoma community. At the forefront of LRF’s mission to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by this disease is LRF’s commitment to empowering patients with the support and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their care. LRF is dedicated to improving standards of education and patient support for all those impacted by a lymphoma diagnosis.

Having been involved with the Lymphoma Research Foundation for the past 13 years, Linda Vaughan says LRF not only changed the course of her lymphoma journey, but also became a large part of her life. Vaughan discovered LRF shortly after being diagnosed with transformed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and says that much like an extension of her own family, LRF has been there to support her every step of the way. “When I attended my first LRF program, I immediately felt a sense of belonging, and was greeted with such warmth and empathy,” says Vaughan. “I take comfort in knowing that I can always reach out to LRF and receive detailed information delivered with compassion.” She continues to give back in several capacities in hopes of helping LRF maintain its impact on the lymphoma community.

As the Foundation reflects on its past and celebrates the present, LRF keeps its focus on the future by investing in the next generation of lymphoma scientists. LRF is committed to funding the most promising lymphoma researchers who have the highest potential to improve patient care and, ultimately, to improve patient outcomes. To date, LRF has funded more than $62 million in lymphoma-specific research and has supported countless lymphoma researchers, leading to a better understanding of lymphoma and increased treatment options for patients.

LRF’s early funding catalyzed the mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) research of Selina Chen-Kiang, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medical College. She, along with her colleagues, identified both the molecular mechanism that causes some patients’ MCL to be resistant to ibrutinib (Imbruvica), an oral agent, and ways to overcome that resistance. Three successive LRF grants contributed funding to this research, including an MCL Project Planning Grant in 2010, an MCL Correlative Clinical Studies Grant in 2011, and an MCL Developmental Grant in 2013. Thanks to these breakthroughs and LRF’s initial funding of this innovative research, Dr. Chen-Kiang and her colleagues were awarded a five-year, $9 million Program Project Grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 2018. This is the first MCLfocused Program Project Grant from the NCI. “LRF’s early funding enabled us to begin to translate innovative concepts into groundbreaking therapies that improve the outcomes of mantle cell lymphoma patients,” Dr. Chen-Kiang says.

Dr. Selina Chen-Kiang is a three-time successive grantee of the LRF Mantle Cell Lymphoma Initiative.